Infected Primary Total Knee Arthroplasty Due To Aeromonas Hydrophilia. Case Report And Literature Review.

Purpose: Aeromonas hydrophilia is bacteria found in the water of warmer climate areas and is resistant to empirical antibiotics. Furthermore, it can live in aerobic and anaerobic environments and when it causes a skin or soft tissue infection it can mimic a staphylococcal or streptococcal infection but is much more pathogenic and destructive. In this report a 60 year old male three weeks post elective primary total knee replacement presented to hospital with an infected prosthesis. He had his staples removed two weeks post operatively by the community nurses and a small proximal wound discharge was noted, however at the three week mark post operatively the knee became a swollen, red and painful. He had systemic symptoms and was taken for a washout and poly liner exchange for which Aeromonas hydrophilia was isolated from fluid and soft tissue cultures.